Radiator



July 28, 1931.

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H. A. HIGGINS Filed April 2. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l awuento'c imw s July 28, 1931. H. A. HIGGINS I 1,816,373

RADIATOR Filed April 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 {f a 5 4a 47 12 44 4 5 4 v 4 0 4 5 I 5'3 i 17 9 W Z6 4% anoemto'o patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY A. HIGGINS, OF DEIROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO LONG MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN RADIATOR Application filed April 2, 1928. serial No. 266,772.

This invention relates to radiators and has particular reference to a shell for a radiator.

An object of this invention is to provide a radiator shell having an auxiliary front which will simulate a standard radiator core, but which will entirely conceal the actual radiator core positioned within the shell.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for securing and positioning the auxiliary.front within the radiator shell and to utilize this securing means as a reinforcement for the standard radiator core.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a radiator constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the radiator shell showing the radiator core removed and Figure 5 is a top plan View of the shell shown in Figure 4.

In the commercial. production of motor vehicles the modern tendency is to provide unusual and quite ornamental radiator shells. In following this tendency the manufacturers have increased the vertical length of the shells and have decreased to a considerable extent the front panels of the shells, so as to give the appearance of a greater heat radiating capacity to the radiator. Further the radiator shells have been formed with curved or arcuate shaped fronts and in general have been formed in a number of designs varying greatly from the standard substantially rectangular shape.

While little or no difiiculty is experienced in shaping the radiator shell to any configuration desired, considerable difiiculty is experienced in fitting a radiator core into these shells in such a manner that the same will present to the public the pleasing appearance desired. In particular, when the front panels of the radiator shell are decreased in size, it is substantially impossible to so positiona radiator core within the shell as to prevent the headers associated with the radiator core from being visible through the front of the radiator. The headers must of course bear a definite relationto the size of the radiator core and it has been found that when these headers are made the. necessary size, they project below the upper front panel of the radiator shell and above the lower front panel of the shell.

Also when the radiator shells are provided with bowed or arcuate shaped fronts, it is substantially impossible to form a radiator core, the tubes of which will conform to the contour of the front of the shell, or if I may be shaped to the contour of the radiator shell, and which may effectively cover the front opening of the radiator shell regardless of the size of this opening with respect to the front panels of the shell. This auxiliary front is formed to simulate a radiator core and is adapted to entirely conceal the standard core positioned within the shell, whereby the shell may be made of any size or configuration desired and yet be fitted with a core of standard or usual construetion.

In the drawings wherein one embodiment of the inventive idea is disclosed and wherein like reference characters designate. corresponding parts throughout all views, 10

designates generally a radiator shell having- By this providin adapted to be positioned within the radiator shell 10, a suitable heat exchange core designated generally by the reference character 17, which core includes the water tubes 18 and fins 19 in accordance with the usual practice. Associated with the core 17 are the upper and lower headers 20 and 21 respectively, with which the water tubes 18 ave communication.

As brought out before, the headers 20 and 21 must 'beara fairly definite relation to the size of the core 17 and in Figure 1 there is diagrammatically illustrated by the dotted lines.20 and 21*, the relative relation of the lower edge of the header 20 with reference to the front panel 14 and the relation of the upper edge of the header2l to the front panel 16. It is obvious that because of the depth of the headers, these headers would be Visible through the front of the radiator shell and would mar to a considerable extent the appearance of the radiator. Further it is obvious that if the tubes 18 would not conform to the arcuate shape of the 'panels14 and 16, that these panels would be positioned far in advance of these tubes which would also mm -to a considerable extent the appearance of the radiator.

To avoid the above difliculties, and to conceal the core 17, and the headers 20 and 21 there is provided an auxiliary front 25. This front includes the vertically extending rods 26and the fins 27, which are secured to the rods 26 to maintain the same in spaced relation and to cooperate with these rods to form a unit simulating the standard radiator core. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, this auxiliary front 25 may be made of a suflicient size to fully cover the opening in the front of the shell 10 and may further be easily shaped to conform to the contour of the front of this shell.

By reference to Figure 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the auxiliary front 25 is provided with the cut-away portion 28 adjacent its lower end to surround the crank opening 29in the lower panel 16 and that two of the rods 26 numbered respectively 26 and 26 are elongated, one of said rods being positioned on each side of the cutaway portion 28, to facilitate positioning of the auxiliary front 26 within the shell 10. the elongated rods 26 and-26 the auxi iarv front 25 may be placed in the shell 10 and these rods by engaging the bottom 12 of the shell 10 will accurately position the auxiliary front 25 with reference to the front opening of the radiator shell.

For clamping the lower edge of the auxiliary front 25 in the shell 10, a plate 30 is secured to the lower panel 16 adjacent the opening 29 and this plate is provided with the off-set portion 31, slotted as at 32 to receive the head 33 of a bolt 34. A bowed cross member 35 is provided with anaperture 36 through which the bolt 34 is adapted to project and a nut 37 is threadedon the free end of the bolt 34 to engage the cross member 35 and to urge the same firmly into engagement with the auxiliary front 25. It will thus be seen that tightening of the nut 37 will clamp the lower edge of the auxiliary front 25 between the panel 16 and the member 35.

The invention further contemplates means for reinforcing the headers 20 and 21 and the core 17 and for utilizing this reinforcing means to maintain the auxiliary front 25 in position adjacent its lateral edges. Accordingly there is provided a pair of reinforcing strips 40, one of which is positioned at each side of the shell 10 as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Each strip 40 is extended upwardly and turned inwardly to form a portion 41' adapted to be secured to the top of the header 20 and is provided with a struck out lug 42 spaced from the portion 41 for engagement under the lower edge of the header 20. The strip 40 is further provided with the lower extension 43 forengaging the lower face of the header 21 and the struck out ortion 44 for engaging the upper edge of tl l e lower header 21.

Each strip 40 is bent laterally as at 45 and then backwardly as at 46 to form the flange.

47 adapted to be secured to the side 13 of the shell 10. As clearly illustrated, each flange'47 may be provided with ofi'set portions 48 to provide clearance for the packing strip 49 usually associated with the shell 10 to form a bearing for the hood cover (not shown).

The free edge of each strip 40 is provided with a plurality of fingers 50, which are preferably rigid with the strip 40 and extend at right angles to the same. These fingers 50 are adapted to engage the core 17 to race the same. 1 Each strip 40 is further provided with a plurality of resilient fingers 51 adapted to extend at an obtuse angle from t e strip 40, and to engage the rear face of the auxiliary front 25 as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. These fingers 51 may be formed from angle lates 52 held in place by fingers 53 struc out from the strip 40.

It will thus be seen that the strips 40, one of which is positioned on either side of the radiator core, will tend to maintain the headers 20 and 21 in spaced relation to. each other, will brace these headers and the core 17 and will maintain, by virtue of the resilient fingers 51, the auxiliary front 25 in firm engagement with the side front panels 15 of the shell 10.

In the use of the invention, the radiator shells 10 are made of any shape or size to give that appearance to the car which the manufacturer desires. The cores 17 with their headers 20 and 21 are made of substantially standard shape and construction and are placed within the shells 10 regardless of how they conform to the contour and size of these shells. The auxiliary fronts 25' are formed to entirely close the front openings in the shells 10 and are clamped in place within the shells whereby they will entirely conceal the cores 1 7 and headers 20 and 21, while giving the appearance to the radiator shell of a core visible through the opening in the shell.

While one embodiment of the inventive idea has been described somewhat in detail, it will be readily apparent that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly the right is therefore reserved to modify the construction in any manner as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a radiator shell of an auxiliary front for said shell, said auxiliary front simulating a radiator core and including a plurality of spaced rods, certain of said rods being elongated to position said auxiliary front relative to said shell.

2. The combination with a radiator shell of an auxiliary front for said shell, and means for securing said front in said shell, said means includin a member having a plurality of resilient fingers engageable with said auxiliary front.

3. The combination with a radiator shell and a core within said shell, of an auxiliary front for said shell, a member secured to said shell, and fingers carried by said member engageable with said core and auxiliary front for reinforcing said core and for maintaining said auxiliary front in position in the said shell.

4. The combination with a radiator shell of an auxiliary front for said shell and means for maintaining said front in position in said shell, said means including a cross member engageable with said auxiliary front and a threaded element secured to said shell for clampingsaid cross member against said auxiliary front.

5. The combination with a radiator shell, a core within the shell and upper and lower headers for the said core, of an auxiliary front for the.said shell, and means for reinforcing said core and headers and for maintaining said auxiliary front in position, said means including a member embracing said headers, and resilient fingers carried by said member engageable with said auxiliary front.

6. The combination with a radiator shell, a core within the shell and upper and lower headers for the said core, of an auxiliary front for the said shell, and means for reinforcing said core and headers, and for maintaining said auxiliary front in position, said means including a member having portions embracing each of said headers, fingers carried by said member engageable with said core and resilient fingers carried by said member engageable with said auxiliary front.

7. The combination with a radiator core and a shell forming a housing for said core, said shell having an open front permitting a circulation of air through said shell into contact with said core, of a member removably mounted in said shell adjacent the front thereof for concealing said core while permitting the circulation of air through said shell and into contact with said core, and rods carried by said member and engageable with said shell for positioning said member relative to said shell.

8. The combination in a radiator unit comprising a shell having a front opening and a radiator positioned within the shell and having upper and lower headers normally visible through the front opening in the shell, and having means providing fluid passages connecting said headers, of an auxiliary front disposed within the shell in ad-- vance of the radiator for concealing the same, and means including members engageable with said radiator and with said aux- .iliary front for resiliently clamping said auxiliary front between the radiator and the rear face of the front of the shell.

9. The combination in a radiator unit comprising a shell having front panel portions definin an opening, and a radiator positioned within the shell and having upper and lower headers normally visible through the opening in the shell and having means providing fluid passages connecting said headers, of an auxiliary front disposed within the shell in advance of the radiator for concealing the same, and means within the shell for resiliently maintaining said auxiliary front in engagement witht'he rear faces of the front panel portions of said shell.

10. The combination in a radiator unit comprising a shell having a front opening and a radiator positioned within said shell and having upper and lower headers normally visible through the front openin in the shell and having means providing. uid passages connecting said headers, of an auxiliary front disposed within the shell in advance of the radiator for concealing the same, said auxiliary front comprising a plurality of vertically arranged members and a plurality of horizontally arranged members rigidly secured to said vertically ar ranged members, and means including members engageable with said-radiator and with said auxiliary front for holding said auxiliary front in position.

11. The combination, in a radiator unit comprising a shell having relatively narrow front panel portions inclined rearwardl and defining an opening, and a radiator posltioned within the shell and having upper and lower headers normally visible through the opening in the shell and having means providing fluid passages connecting said headers, the front of said radiator lying in a single plane which is variably spaced from the rear faces of the front panel portions of the shell dependent upon the inclination of these panel portions of the shell, of a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged members rigidly secured to each other and constituting a mask shaped to conform to the shape of the inner faces of the front panel portions of the shell, said mask concealing the radiator and said members defining openings permitting the passage of air through the mask, and means engageable with the radiator and with said mask for clamping the same against the rear faces of the front panel portions of said shell.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY A. HIGGINS. 

